SOLAR POWERED RUNNING

This week the UK broke records with its production of solar energy. On Friday alone enough solar power was generated to provide for a quarter of the countries energy supplies! Looking to our runners there was definitely no lack of energy as we let the sun warm our muscles and power the club over both road and country.

We start mid week where the competition is hotting up in the club’s handicap-5k series, The Mickey Edwards Series, ran on Wednesday nights in June and July. This week saw 31 GBRC members improve on their times from the previous event with four people declaring personal best runs: Emma Levett-Welham in a time of 33:36; Paul Connell in a time of 18:59; Neil Robbins in 25:00; and Deborah Cubberley in 25:09. Belinda Palmer-Barnes almost achieved a personal best with her fastest time on the course for two years: 26:23.
Most improved goes to Andrew White whose time of 23:47 was 3 minutes and 39 seconds faster than his previous attempt.
For the full results of the Mickey Edwards series can be found here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/18OcwOXhLpUxWITdUPdsrjUxkLyp85iThgC5SfxYSHQk/edit#gid=1113178342

Saturday morning brought sunshine as members of GBRC undertook a volunteer takeover at Mersea Island parkrun. Running the course were six club members, two of which recorded course personal bests: Luke Groves in a time of 25:04 and Deborah Cubberley in a time of 25:57. Chusa Bautista Fructuoso made a course debut in a time of 24:50. Running as pacers helping others to personal bests were Charlie Keitch in 23:20; Scott Young in 25:19; and Helene Tyler in 33:11.

[Left: Helene Tyler paces runners around the Mersea Island Course; Right: Chusa Bautista Fructuoso is full of encouragement for everyone!]

Harwich parkrun celebrated their 100th run with a record breaking attendance, made all the larger by six blue-vests. Tim Ballard recorded a course personal best with a 7th place finish in 19:24. Meera Rajoo-Oakley was out for her first time on the course finishing in a time of 21:57. Also for the GBRC ladies were Antoinette Wilson with 24:01; Cherie Hipkins in 26:33; and with a goal time of 30:00, Liz Jones stopped the clock in 29:29. Matthew Knowles completed the representation from the GBRC men in a time of 27:10.

Clacton parkrun saw 7 from the club running. Equalling his course best was Ryan Day in 18:16 and a second place finish. Ray Baggs also ran a course personal best with his 8th place finish in a time of 19:15. Peter Reeve ran his first ever parkrun in a time of 34:06. Completing the line-up for the Bentley men were David Goldsmith in a time of 19:04; Brian Telford in 23:44; and Robert Thorpe who stopped the clock in 27:54. A sole representative for the GBRC ladies was Sandra James with a time of 37:12.

Flying solo at their chosen parkruns were Malcolm Jarvis, Patrick Bastow and James McCullagh. Jarvis finished Valentines parkrun in 21:37; Bastow stopped the clock in 30:20 at Peterborough parkrun and Maldon prom was the scene of McCullagh’s 21:47 5k.

Finally, we look to Colchester Castle where Craig Warriner finished in 4th position with a time of 18:23. He was followed home by Jake Darkins in 21:27; Nicholas Goodman in 24:30; Frank Gardiner in 26:25 and Magdalena Komorowska in 27:14.

The end of Saturday’s running was punctuated with heavy rains, washing away the drips of sweat and providing fresh roads for the club’s members to compete on over Sunday morning.

Eric Shaw and Lara Townsend took on the Burnham-on-Crouch 10k. Shaw completed his run in 58:18; Townsend followed in 1:01:50.

[Eric Shaw, a proud member of GBRC and of team2gether at the Burnham-on-Crouch 10k]

Rob Blackman was up at the Manchester Great Run, 10k through the streets of the city. Blackman finished in 42:09, an impressive 467th position out of thousands of runners.

Also taking on 10,000m was Magdalena Komorowska, Darren Willey and Ade Cherry at the London Vitality 10k. Komorowska finished in 54:27; Willey in 54:29 and Cherry was hot on their heels in 59:04.

[Magdalena Komorowska and Darren Willey at the London Vitality 10k]

Bank Holiday Monday saw one of the clubs favourite 10k races: Hatfield Broad Oak. Running the course that winds through the village whilst spectators can enjoy a village fete. Tim Ballard; Frank Gardiner; John Ferdinand; Charlie Keitch; Luke Groves; John Bush and Scott Young took on the race. There was also a 1 mile fun run for youngsters which was enjoyed by Amelia Ballard.

Going off road was Sue Thomas at the Mayflower Cross Country Run; around 13 miles between Harwich and Manningtree.

Also taking on half marathons were those at the Elmstead Market trail half. Anna Lyons was the first to cross the line in 2:37:50. She was followed by Paul Carlisle in 2:39:19. Jack Wicks ran with Louise Upston; the couple finishing together in 3:16:56.

Three marathons were completed this weekend: Paul Blackwell took on the Jeskyns challenge down in Kent; whilst two of the club took on their marathon in the streets of Edinburgh. Andy Stephens completed his run in 4:01:39 and Gary Hill crossed the line in 5:01:56.

[Marathon bling at the Jeskyns challenge]

There was even action after dark this weekend when Linzi Iddon and Emma Levett-Welham completed the St Helena Hospice midnight walk in 2 hours 39 minutes. The walk started and finishes at Colchester’s Community Stadium and this year’s theme was Disco Divas.